Betty Bowers: Now that DADT has been kicked to the curb before Republicans had time to call in bigot reinforcements in January, I wonder how many folks who fetishize the military automotively will now slap "Support *Most* of Our Troops" metallic decals on the back of their enormous cars?

The GOP blocked the Dream Act, legislation that would have provided legal residency to kids who came to the United States illegally before age 16 and who graduated from high school, completed two years of college or military service and had no criminal record.

Oh boy, we hope this happens: Evil Ned Flanders (né John Bolton) is considering a White House run in 2012, because if "inexperienced senators from Illinois" can do it, why can't he? He's coming for your ass, Ahmadinejad! [Politico]

Led by the Liberty Counsel, a coalition of anti-gay Christianist hate groups today signed on to a letter vowing to force the next Congress to reverse today's repeal of DADT. Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver rants:

"This action will be overturned in the next Congress because it breaks the bond of trust that must exist between the military and those who command in the Pentagon and Congress. Today's vote will prove as costly to its proponents as ObamaCare was to its advocates. We promise a full mobilization of faith-based and policy organizations, veterans, and military families in the states of every Senator who voted for repeal of DADT against the advice of our service chiefs and during a time of war. Those Senators - and the Pentagon leaders responsible for this breach of trust - should understand that they will be the object of concerted political action against them."

"Today is a tragic day for our armed forces. The American military exists for only one purpose - to fight and win wars. Yet it has now been hijacked and turned into a tool for imposing on the country a radical social agenda. This may advance the cause of reshaping social attitudes regarding human sexuality, but it will only do harm to the military's ability to fulfill its mission.

"It is shameful that the Democratic leadership, aided by Republican Senators, has forced through such a radical change in a lame-duck session of Congress. The 1993 law which is to be repealed was adopted only after months of debate and at least a dozen Congressional hearings. The repeal has been forced through only eighteen days after the Pentagon released a massive report, which raised more questions than it answered on the impact the overturning of this policy will have on our nation's military." - TAX EXEMPT Family Research Council head douchenozzle Tony Perkins, riding in the DADT waambulance.

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Sudanese president stashing billions in UK banks

It's interesting to see this story today following Assange's remarks about "attacks" from banks yesterday. He listed "attacks" from banks in the US, UK (where Lloyds is based), Switzerland and Dubai. One of the previous WikiLeaks reports was about the Afghan VP arriving in Dubai with $52 million in cash. As we all know how these banks operate today, would it be so hard to believe a major bank would be somehow involved?

Once again, I fail to see how these stories are remotely dangerous to our democratic system. If anything, these are reports that the public has every right to know. The Guardian:

Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, has siphoned as much as $9bn out of his impoverished country, and much of it may be stashed in London banks, according to secret US diplomatic cables that recount conversations with the chief prosecutor of the international criminal court.

Some of the funds may be held by the part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group, according to prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who told US officials it was time to go public with the scale of Bashir's theft in order to turn Sudanese public opinion against him.

"Ocampo suggested if Bashir's stash of money were disclosed (he put the figure at $9bn), it would change Sudanese public opinion from him being a 'crusader' to that of a thief," one report by a senior US official states. "Ocampo reported Lloyds bank in London may be holding or knowledgeable of the whereabouts of his money," the cable says. "Ocampo suggested exposing Bashir had illegal accounts would be enough to turn the Sudanese against him.

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Talk about epistemic closure

For every single one of you shithouse lawyers who questioned the treatment of Bradley Manning because "you don't like Glenn Greenwald" or his "posts are too long," suck on this:

PFC Manning is currently being held in maximum custody. Since arriving at the Quantico Confinement Facility in July of 2010, he has been held under Prevention of Injury (POI) watch.

His cell is approximately six feet wide and twelve feet in length.

The cell has a bed, a drinking fountain, and a toilet.

The guards at the confinement facility are professional. At no time have they tried to bully, harass, or embarrass PFC Manning. Given the nature of their job, however, they do not engage in conversation with PFC Manning.

At 5:00 a.m. he is woken up (on weekends, he is allowed to sleep until 7:00 a.m.). Under the rules for the confinement facility, he is not allowed to sleep at anytime between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. If he attempts to sleep during those hours, he will be made to sit up or stand by the guards.

He is allowed to watch television during the day. The television stations are limited to the basic local stations. His access to the television ranges from 1 to 3 hours on weekdays and 3 to 6 hours on weekends.

He cannot see other inmates from his cell. He can occasionally hear other inmates talk. Due to being a pretrial confinement facility, inmates rarely stay at the facility for any length of time. Currently, there are no other inmates near his cell.

He's being treated unlike any other accused in the country and kept in his cell for 23 hours a day. It's absurd and outrageous. And he is being treated this way for one reason, and one reason only- to break him, so the government can then proceed with an outrageous suit against a journalist- Julian Assange. He isn't a security risk. He isn't a physical threat. He's made no attempt to hurt himself or anyone else. He is being tortured with mentally debilitating confinement simply to break him. It's obscene, and Obama should be embarrassed. Just what the hell was he teaching in his con law classes?

And yet I'm sure there will be some internet tough guys excusing this behavior. Shame on you.

You will be able to sleep more soundly tonight knowing that John Boehner has assigned Michele Bachmann to the House Intelligence Committee, where she will have access to sensitive materials and classified information. Sleep well, fellow Americans, and may all your dreams of WakiLeaks come true.

The US Chamber of Commerce lobbied to kill a bill that would have helped cover medical expenses and compensation for first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to documents available online.

The Chamber's aim was to keep open a tax loophole benefiting foreign corporations that the $7.4 billion bill would have closed to provide funding for the American emergency workers.

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Just a reminder that the America we grew up in was a different place. For one thing, rich people paid a lot of taxes, and this was good for everyone.

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I think this kind of thing is what really has corporate panties in a twist and corporate panties in a twist are food and drink for wingers.

Diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks show the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer hired investigators to find evidence of corruption against the Nigerian attorney general to pressure him to drop a $6 billion lawsuit over fraudulent drug tests on Nigerian children.

Researchers did not obtain signed consent forms, and medical personnel said Pfizer did not tell parents their children were getting the experimental drug. Eleven children died, and others suffered disabling injuries including deafness, muteness, paralysis, brain damage, loss of sight, slurred speech.

Nigeria's already shown it's more interested in bucks than justice by letting Cheney and Halliburton off the hook. I'm sure Pfizer can settle this one for pennies on the dollar.

There's an interview transcript with reporters covering the story which dates back some 14 years at the link.

Wake up America... they're creating their own third world country right here and once they're done, what happens to YOUR kids?